BuzzSugar

What to Download: New Music on iTunes

BuzzSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:00:25 PDT

Tuesdays are big in entertainmentville: Not only do all the new DVD releases hit Netflix, but new music also pours into stores, including iTunes. So I take a spin through each week's iTunes music releases and pick out some albums and tracks worthy of a download. In addition to the songs and albums below, you can now download the Mad Men soundtrack and Jennifer Hudson's self-titled new album.

Foul-mouthed piano man: I've been patiently waiting for the new Ben Folds album, and so far, it sounds like everything I expected from the weirdo songwriter. A lot of the lyrics are dark in subject matter, and I like the tracks focused on relationships most, including his duet with Regina Spektor, "You Don't Know Me," as well as "Before Cologne" and "Cologne."

Soul singing: I am such a sucker for pretty, romantic, soulful tunes, and James Morrison, a singer from across the pond, delivers just that. Off his new album, I like, "If You Don't Wanna Love Me," "Love is Hard," and "You Make It Real." Maybe it's just the name, but he sort of reminds me of a young Van Morrison.

One more release still to come, so

Folk transformation: When I think of Tom Morello, I think Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, not folk music of the Bob Dylan variety - but that's what he's been up to recently, and his new album is getting great reviews. I like his voice, and the band behind him adds interesting depth. Songs I'm digging include "The Iron Wheel" and the title track, "The Fabled City."

Song of the Day: Ben Folds With Regina Spektor, "You Don't Know Me"

BuzzSugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:30:35 PDT

Ben Folds's plucky tune "You Don't Know Me" has that bouncy piano thing that actually reminds me more of Regina Spektor's music than Ben Folds's, so it seems fitting that Spektor would contribute some sweet vocals to the track. "You Don't Know Me" will be on Ben Folds's September album Way to Normal.

I'm really digging this song. No, it's not much like Folds's older stuff, but it's a cute, jaunty departure from the norm, and I can appreciate that. To check out the song for yourself,

Hat tip to Stereogum for finding this video.

4 Reasons to Add an Exercise Ball to Your Home Gym

Leta Shy — Tue, 22 May 2012 13:58:44 PDT

The exercise ball may occupy a lot of room in your home gym, but it's one versatile piece of equipment. Find out how to get the most out of your exercise ball below.

A healthier seat: Ditch your normal seat on the couch and sit on an exercise ball instead. Using a ball to sit helps correct your posture, tones your abs, and encourages you to stretch, all of which sounds a lot better than the lower back pain that too much sitting on the couch can cause.

Routine shakeup: Adding an exercise ball to your normal mat routines can shake things up and challenge you. For example, you can plank using an exercise ball at your feet to make holding your pose that much harder, or sit or lay on your exercise ball while you execute arm exercises. Even just practicing your balance by kneeling on the exercise ball can help you tone and whittle. Need some ideas? Try these amazingly effective ab and butt workouts using the exercise ball:

Find out how to do the plank pike and the hamstring curl using an exercise ball with this advanced exercise ball workout video.
Skip boring crunches and do this ball pass ab exercise instead.
Challenge your core and balance with this single-leg squat, done against a wall using an exercise ball.
Lie on the ball and work your arms with this chest press move.

Read on for more reasons to use an exercise ball.

Key Skin Care Products Every Woman Should Own

Jaime Richards — Sun, 20 May 2012 05:10:00 PDT

A trip to the skin care aisle can be a dizzying experience, but it doesn't have to be so complicated. And while it's obviously important to make sunscreen a part of your daily routine, there are a few key items every woman should include on her must-have list, explains Suki Kramer, founder and president of Suki skin care. They are . . .

A great exfoliator: "From jump-starting collagen to purifying pores to removing dryness and blemishing to making us feel great because of the immediate way an exfoliator takes care of business, this product is a can't-live-without product," Kramer explains.
The right moisturizer: "Even if your skin type tends to be normal to oily, using a high-quality moisturizer with good oils on a regular basis can be the key to improving the way your skin functions, looks, and feels," she adds.
A great lip balm: Everybody gets dry, chapped lips at some point or has problems with flaking and/or dryness. A lip repair product will help keep the lips smooth, supple, and kissable. Bonus? It also provides an excellent base for your lipsticks, glosses, and liners, keeping them fresher- and purer-looking all day (or night) long.

4 Coffee Break Tips to Boost Your Energy (It's Not Just About Caffeine!)

Self — Wed, 16 May 2012 04:15:34 PDT

We are pumped to share one of our favorite stories from Self here on FitSugar!

Are the words "coffee break" kind of an oxymoron to you? Probably so if you are just guzzling your grande while you are still at your desk and barely even looking up from your work. While it's true that caffeine can provide you with a jolt of energy, taking an actual break to enjoy your coffee could be the key to getting a better energy buzz from your cup of joe.

The folks at Gevalia introduced me to the idea of fika, the traditional Swedish coffee break that Swedes take two times per day to enjoy a cup of coffee and a snack. Self has reported that taking a true coffee break can leave you feeling happier and more sociable. I thought the idea sounded interesting and I gave it a try for myself and found that I felt more energized from the combination of stepping away from my work and drinking the coffee than I normally do from just downing my java on the go. Read on for some ways you can enjoy a fika of your own.

Jay-Z Talks Baby Blue and Makes an All-American Announcement

Katie Henry — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:59:38 PDT

Jay-Z was in the City of Brotherly Love yesterday to announce his involvement with the Budweiser's Made in America two-day musical festival, which will take place over Labor Day weekend. Jay will headline the holiday celebration, featuring 30 acts at Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The mega-music event will take place Sept. 1 and 2 with proceeds benefiting the United Way.

Jay talked about his involvement with the show, saying, "I'll headline the first night; I'll probably get one of those silly headsets with the thing, just to look important. . . You'll see me with probably a beer in my hand, just enjoying the festivities and the music like everyone else. I'ma try and keep it as normal and simple as possible." Jay also hinted that Beyoncé might join him on stage during his act, "I tried to put it far enough away that she'd have a little gap in her schedule, so hopefully that works."

Beyoncé wasn't the only lady on his mind during his chat with the press. When asked about his return to music and how Blue has influenced Jay-Z's sound and lyrics he responded, "I thought that I would after my daughter was born. I thought I would be more inspired with all the new feelings and everything that I'd have to write about, but it really happened the other way. . . I just really wanna hang out with her. I just wanna enjoy those moments for a bit and I'm sure that feeling of music will come back to me."

Thinking About a Juice Cleanse? 4 Ways It Can Cause Weight Gain

Jenny Sugar — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:19:17 PDT

Whether it's to improve energy, clear acne, Spring clean the digestive system, or shed a few pounds, juice cleansing is all the rage now. Even celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Nicole Richie are buzzing about the benefits of liquid detoxing. Before you splurge on a juicer or lay down the dough for a liquid detox program, learn how a juice cleanse may lead to weight gain.

Hard-to-measure liquid calories: Since all the calories you're consuming are liquid, if you're not watching your intake, it's easy to consume well over the daily limit. (A pressed juice averages between 100-350 calories per 16-ounce bottle.) Make sure you have a plan to follow and an accurate way to determine how many calories are in each glass or bottle you're drinking. Most retail juicing programs provide calorie counts, but are also pricey to join.
Messes with metabolism: A typical juice cleanse lasts anywhere from three to seven days (or sometimes longer), where you drink 32 to 64 ounces of freshly pressed fruit and vegetable juice each day. When your body doesn't get the all the nutrients (or the amount of calories) it's used to, it stresses out because it thinks it's starving. Often the body reacts to this by slowing down its metabolism, which can make losing weight harder in the future. And while juicing is an easy way to deliver phytonutrients to the body, the fruit-based juices tend to be high in sugar, which can negatively affect insulin levels in the body.

Continue reading for more ways a juice cleanse can cause weight gain.

Gear Review: Lark Silent Alarm Clock

Leta Shy — Sun, 13 May 2012 16:48:00 PDT

You can count me as one of the 30 percent of people who don't get enough sleep every night, so when Lark sent me its silent alarm clock ($100) to test a couple months ago, I was all about it. Since then, I've been using it pretty regularly, here's what I think of the alarm clock.

First, here's what it is: The Lark is part app (compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, or iPad only at the moment, but an Android version seems imminent), part motion-sensing wristband that vibrates to wake you up and tracks your sleep quality throughout the night. It promises to both help you wake up more naturally and without disturbing your bedmate and change your personality from sleep-deprived night owl to well-rested morning lark. Included in the package is the Lark sensor, wristband, and charging dock where you plug your wristband into when you wake up - both to shut off the vibrating alarm and ensure that your wristband has enough juice to monitor your sleeping stats for the next night. The charging dock includes a USB port to connect your iPhone charger to it, so you don't have to use two sockets for each.

Who it's for: The Lark is useful if you have a partner and you both wake up at different times. Since it's a silent alarm clock, it rouses you with a series of vibrations through your wristband, so if your normal wake-up call is earlier than your bedmate's, your partner can snooze away without being disturbed. That may or may not be valuable enough for you to justify the $100 price tag, but it is an effective solution. Besides the alarm clock portion, the Lark app tracks several sleeping stats: how many hours you slept as well as how many times you woke up during the night and how long it took you to fall asleep (both based on your movements).

Keep reading for my thoughts on the Lark alarm clock.

The CW Pilots: New Shows Coming in Fall 2012

Lizzie Fuhr — Fri, 11 May 2012 16:14:56 PDT

We already gave you the initial info on the new pilots coming this Fall to Fox and NBC, but now we bring you the list from The CW. And it's good news! Five new hour-long series have been picked up by the network for the Fall TV season.

The Carrie Diaries: This highly anticipated series stars AnnaSophia Robb as Carrie Bradshaw in 1984, during her pre-Sex and the City high school days.
First Cut: As if being a new doctor wasn't tough enough, a recent med school graduate (Mamie Gummer) realizes that old crushes and enemies will be working alongside her at her first job.
Cult: After his brother mysteriously disappears, investigative journalist Jeff Sefton (Matt Davis) uncovers the underworld of a popular TV show and all its crazy fans.
Arrow: After being shipwrecked on a deserted island, a billionaire makes his way back home and does his best to integrate himself back into normal life and right his past wrongs. At the same time, he takes on a new persona called Arrow (the show is based on the comic-book series) and fights crime.
Beauty & the Beast: Kristin Kreuk stars as homicide detective Catherine Chandler, a strong-willed cop who witnessed her mother's murder when she was just a teenager. She would have been murdered too, but with the help of an outside force she could never explain, she managed to escape. She soon learns that her savior is a man who turns into a beast at night.

Photo courtesy of The CW

8 Things You Think Are Good for Your Money . . . That Aren't

LearnVest — Fri, 11 May 2012 15:03:23 PDT

You may be wasting money when you think you're saving. LearnVest shares eight of the biggest money misconceptions.

Frugalista. Recessionista. In the past few years, people have coined a lot of silly words describing women and their approach to money, but the thought behind each of them is the same: You care about your hard-earned dollars and want to make them stretch.

That's true of most of us: We scrimp, we pinch, we try to feed our proverbial piggy bank as much as possible. Yet sometimes, in our excitement to be financial overachievers, we overreach.

It turns out there are a number of things that sound like they'd be doing good things for your money, and make you feel like you're saving more . . . when, actually, they're having the opposite effect.

Paying Every Debt Equally

When you have multiple debts to pay off (a credit card here, a student loan there) you might feel like a rock star simply for keeping up with them all and dividing your attention in a lot of different directions. Which, in a sense, you are! After all, you should always pay at least the minimums on all your loans.

But, if you have extra money to pay down your debts, you’re doing yourself a disservice by dividing it equally. The debts with the highest interest rates grow the fastest, so you should focus your muscle on the most toxic debts first.

Read on for more.